The Royal Naval Dockyard will impress you the moment you spy it from the balcony of your cruise ship. This impressive stone fortress rises up to greet visitors arriving to the King's Wharf dock in Bermuda, and it offers an equally impressive list of attractions, restaurants and shops within easy walking distance from your boat.
The Clocktower Mall is an iconic attraction in Bermuda — Photo courtesy of Bermuda Department of Tourism
Get artsy
Start your day with a visit to the Bermuda Arts Centre. Exhibits showcase the original works of local artists and change every six weeks. You can also watch the artists at work in their studios. You might even spy them out and about, painting en plein air ("in the open air").
Next up? Take a tour of Dockyard Glassworks. Get so close to the artists at work that you can feel the heat from the furnace. Marvel at how they turn natural elements into functional glassware. Browse the gallery for that perfect piece to take home. Then, go next door to the Bermuda Rum Cake Company.
Grab some grub
A Caribbean favorite, Bermuda rum cakes are made in a cakery - a Bermuda-style cottage bakery - and soaked in black rum. The Bermuda Rum Cake Company uses Gosling’s Bermuda Black Seal Rum. Order the traditional flavor, or try a more adventurous flavor like rum swizzle, from this duty-free shop.
If you want more than a snack, try the Cruise Ship Menu at Freeport Seafood. Dine on seafood in the garden or on the patio, and enjoy this break in your busy Bermuda day.
You might also try Bone Fish Bar and Grill or the Frog & Onion Pub. Bone Fish serves up Mediterranean cuisine prepared by an award-winning chef. Try the Bermuda Rockfish. At the Frog & Onion Pub, you can enjoy one of five only-brewed-in-Bermuda beers in a classic British pub setting.
Shop 'til you drop
If you want to go shopping, you must visit the Clocktower Shopping Mall, next to the Dockyard. You can’t miss it; you’ll recognize it by the building’s iconic clock towers. Inside, you’ll find many shops selling everything from clothing to souvenirs. If you need a swimsuit, try browsing in Calypso. If you’re looking for that one-of-a-kind souvenir, then explore the unique collection of items at the Bermuda Triangle.
If you’re looking for a unique gift to take home, try Bermuda Clayworks back at the Dockyard. It’s a working pottery studio, but you can also purchase ceramics in their gift shop. Check out the handmade pieces by artist Jon Faulkner.
Another must for your Bermuda art and shopping tour is the Bermuda Craft Market. Here, you’ll discover the wares of nearly 60 local artists from Bermuda’s thriving arts scene. If you’re still hungry, the craft market offers free tastings of locally made food and drinks.
This is just a sampling of everything there is to see and do at the Royal Naval Dockyard. You just might wish you had a few more hours at the port.
A cruise ship docks at the Royal Naval Dockyard in Bermuda — Photo courtesy of Bermuda Department of Tourism
